City Poll: In NYC, Cuomo's Public Approval Withstands Recent Turmoil in Albany

By Bobby Cuza
Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 07:16 PM EST

Albany politics may not enjoy a great reputation, but Governor Andrew Cuomo’s public approval has largely withstood recent turmoil, according to our latest NY1-Baruch College City Poll. Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Even by Albany standards, it was a new low: its two longtime legislative leaders convicted on corruption charges just days apart late last year. Governor Andrew Cuomo, though, has emerged from the episode unscathed, both in terms of prosecution and popularity.

According to our latest NY1-Baruch College City Poll, Cuomo still enjoys the approval of a majority of city residents – 54 percent, with just 24 percent disapproval. 22 percent aren’t sure. Those numbers held steady from our last City Poll in September. Cuomo’s appeal, though, isn’t uniform. He has a far higher approval rating among men, 65 percent, than women, just 45 percent. And in a twist, while those in his own party give him 54 percent approval, Cuomo scores even higher, 63 percent, among Republicans.

Cuomo, of course, has one prominent critic: Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"What we've often seen is, if someone disagrees with him openly, some kind of revenge or vendetta follows," de Blasio said in June of 2015.

A feud with de Blasio that spilled into public view last summer has produced friction over issues from homelessness to MTA funding.

However, when asked about the feud, 49 percent of New Yorkers said it’s mostly a power struggle. Just 31 percent said it’s mostly about real policy differences. 20 percent weren’t sure.

City Hall will no doubt be cheered by the fact de Blasio’s approval rating, 58 percent, now tops the governor’s, a reversal from September, when the mayor’s number lagged behind, 44 percent to Cuomo’s 55 percent.

"That’s a very big change," said Mickey Blum, pollster with Baruch College. "Last time, the governor’s numbers were substantially above the mayor’s."

Of course, there’s plenty Cuomo and de Blasio agree on, including a higher minimum wage. Long championed by de Blasio, Cuomo last year decided to make the issue his own, throwing his support behind a $15 statewide mandatory minimum wage.

It’s a winning issue in the city, our poll found, with 86 percent in support and just 10 percent opposed. That may help explain why Cuomo, who launched an RV tour this week pushing the effort, has made it a top legislative priority.

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